The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-10-27
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VI VIS illOJilcl dlDulll. ne (llu! ne Cllu! he
did," The speakers voice rose with each
repetition and her cheeks got redder and red
der. Il must know better than you, Rosie!"
"Oh, of course; you do not call it giving,
but do. You were standing by, suppose,
when he took it? Your eyes were cast down
and you put your most becoming pout on!
And now that Tom Crichton, with his ten
thousand year, falls in love with you and
wants to marry you, you are afraid poor
GeoT Hamilton will show him your photo
graph and talk about your silly letters and
make mischief. You incoIrigible little fiirt!
1t would serve you right to he treated as you
have treated Others. How many men have
you made fools of, l wonder! A dozen?"
The speaker spoke sarcastically; her heareI'
was beginning to cry. The girls were sisters,
both young, both pretty and charming; but
Lefty, the younger. was lovely, brainless
little flirt. The elder Rosalind, had plenty
OF brains, but scarcely experience enough to
enable her to use them judiciously She was
brilliant creature to look at-warm hearted
and inpulsive t. a fault. There was nothing
she would not d. or dare for one she loved,
and she dearly loved her bewitching little
sister, and rejoiced with all her heart when
the genial, good looking young Squire, Tom
Crichton, who came Tito the neighborhood to
take possession of an unexpected inheritance,
fell in love at first sight with Lefty and pro
posed to her after a weeks acquaintance
But Tom was a quick tempered, Jealous
young fellow, and he had already spoken his
mind to Miss Lefty about her love of flirta-
ton. She promised to mend her ways, but
it was more than she conld do to keep her
promise when temptation came in alluring
guise.
Mlreford was garrison town, and one of
the gallant Dashshire regiment, Godfrey
Hamilton by name, had quickly succumbed
TO the destinations of the younger of the two
daughters of the widowed Mrs Maitland,
who lived i'll n pretty cottage on the London
road, about hall Il mile or so from Mireford
1t was in vain that Rosalind warned the
needless young coquctte that she was treating
poor young Hamilton lisgracefully. But in
good truth the young man was very well able
to take care of himself. He was not very
deeply wounded, but as soon as Crichton ap-
peared upon the scene he made up his mind
to punish Miss Lefty, if possible, for her tricks
by pretending to be broken hearted and des-
perately jealous.
He was, however, sufficiently III love to be
his reproaches; and when he fatty refused to
give up the photograph Lefty had given him,
and one or two absurd little notes she had
written to him, and glove he had purloined,
the silly girl was thoroughly frightened and
firmly persuaded that "Tom" would hear all
about it and break off his engagement. Had
Rosalind but known how slightly Hamiltons
heart was touched she would have quickly
laughed Lefty out of her fright; but when the
girl solemnly assured her that Geoff was so
much in love and so angry and jealous that
she knew he meant to have his revenge, the
sensible elder sister forgot that she was not
living in melodramatic age, and, moreover,
she quite overlooked the fact that Hamilton,
being gentleman, it was not likely that he
would act as if he were cad.
So, on the whole, things were looking very
serious, when, for the fifteth time at least,
Rosalind tried to make her sister confess
whether she had given Geoff the photograph,
or whether he had taken it from Mrs. Matt
lands album She had her own opinion on
the subject, so it was really waste of time to
cross question the naughty little girl, who
was anxious to keep peace between the old
love and the new
81 think you are very unkind, Rosie" she
said at last, "and if you do not believe me
how can l expect Tom to do it?"
II do not expect Tom to do it'll You talk as
if believing in you were gymnastic feat l
know what l should do in Toms place if
another man told me he had a photograph of
the girl | meant to marry, and gloves and
things"-
"He has only one glove, and no thingslr in.
terrupted Lefty, whimpering. "Don't ex-
aggerate; and 1 gave Tom two photographs
one sitting and one standing-and he has
heaps and heaps of lettersl"
al hope the spelling is all right"
II hope so. He is not much of a speller
himself"
"He spelt 'adored' with two DIS the other
day-'My addored one.' 1t looked so funny"
"Mr. Hamilton away just now, is he not2'
Rosalind asked presently.
eyes. He went TO his sisters wedding. |
wish it was to his own"
"He does not live in the barracks think?"
"No; he has rooms in Diamond Crescent,
No. Is, and Gerard Townsend lives with him."
About an hour later young lady with
macintosh on her arm knocked at the door
of 10 Diamond Crescent. She had evidently
been walking fast, for her cheeks were glow
ing and her eyes were bright
"This is awful, she said to herself, as she
heard steps approaching the door on the in
side. A civil looking woman opened it,
"Are-are the gentlemen at home" the
visitor asked. 81 mean-is Mr.. Townsend at
home' l am his sister, and he expects me,
Think
ooh, walk in, ma'am, if you please. Mr..
Townsend told me you were not coming until
tomorrow. He is out just now, but your
room is quite ready. Have you no luggage,
ma'am"
The visitor muttered something about the |
station as she went into the hall "Please |
show me into the sitting room," she said; IL |
can wait for my brother there. No, thank
you; no tea. Is this the room!'
ayes, ma'am. The gentlemen has this be- |
tween them. Mr.. Hamilton is coming back |
unexpected this evening. He was telegraphed |
for, as there is some talk of the regiment |
leaving at once"
"What is this noisel" the visitor asked
Grain, ma'am. It's thunder shower, /
think. 1t always makes that noise on the
roof of the verander. It's well you was under
cover, ma'am."
Rosalind gave sigh of relief as the door
at last closed behind the landlady "Now, if
by stroke of good fortune l can commit my
felony ard get away before my brother
comes in what an extraordinary thing tbat
4 /